Waratahs, Reds and Rebels pack down as new east coast powerhouse

February 14, 2014
Chris Dutton, Georgina Robinson

Waratahs, Reds and Rebels pack down as new east coast powerhouse.

The Waratahs, Reds and Rebels are considering merging their operations to form an eastern seaboard powerhouse under a radical proposal to be put before the ARU board at the end of the month.

In what could be the biggest reform to the structure of rugby in Australia since the game turned professional, the three east coast clubs would retain their independence but report to a head of Super Rugby, who would be answerable to ARU boss Bill Pulver. Each franchise would hand over limited control to the ARU but keep its board and retain ownership of its assets.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz2tDKl9TAf

I guess the ARU should have control if they continually bail them all out financially :eek:

And the ARU already 'owns' the Rebels anyway

Reds pulled out!

The Queensland Rugby Union has walked away from a plan to radically restructure provincial rugby in Australia. Three weeks after plans were revealed for a partial merger of the Reds', Waratahs' and Rebels' operations under the auspices of a centralised "Rugby Australia" body, QRU boss Jim Carmichael confirmed that Queensland had withdrawn support for the concept.
"Nothing has changed in my mind on the need to work towards a long-term strategy that benefits the game and its assets," Carmichael said. "But from my and Queensland's perspectives, what we were looking at we didn't believe was going to be achieved."


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz2vdGT2s58

Can imagine why the reds, at the moment, being the most secure franchise, have baulked at the idea. The ARU just have to wait until they go broke again...in 1 year or 5 it will happen sooner or later, the reds will then have to toe the line and pay the piper.

I was originally pretty pissed at this concept, thinking that the East Coast power bloc didn't need any more support, but then I rethought it. It is simply the ARU setting up a single account for them to pay into when they have to bail out one of their favourite basket cases.

Clever accounting really, Carmichael is missing out on a gold mine!